Copyright essentially provides no protection for recipes beyond the written form of the recipe. Copyright would make it illegal for someone to reproduce the exact form of the recipe but does not make it illegal for someone to make beer from your recipe. If you want, you can still put a copyright sign on your recipe and put your name next to it.

Beer recipes are a dime a dozen. Recipes in general can't be copyrighted, the legal folks can correct if wrong (looks like they already have weighed in). As said keep it secret, like the Coke Cola recipe if you think it is supper special.

There are recipes for Pliny the Elder on the web, supplied by Vinnie Cilurzo. Now why would he do that? He says the equipment and procedures are hard to duplicate, so you get a similar beer, but not exactly the same. Sort of like Grandma's apple pie recipe.

MY homebrew club did an activity that weighed out the same ingredients in kits - malt, hops and yeast - for club members to brew a home, so water and process were not controlled. When judged there was a 20 point spread. So much for a recipe being special.

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Jeff RankertAnn Arbor Brewers Guild, AHA Member, BJCP CertifiedHome-brewing, not just a hobby, it is a lifestyle!

I have a saison recipe that a lot of people love and have asked me for the recipe. Does anyone know a way to copyright it? Thank you for your input.

Are you the owner of the brewery that sells this beer? Or just a home brewer serving friends? Either way I would be honored they asked and just give it out. Most probably won't brew it. And few if any will brew it "just like you". But, thinking as I type here (dangerous), what could you copyright? The grain bill? The hops used? You mashed at 156.0859 degrees? I'm curious as to what the legal folks have to say...

Beer recipes are a dime a dozen. Recipes in general can't be copyrighted, the legal folks can correct if wrong (looks like they already have weighed in). As said keep it secret, like the Coke Cola recipe if you think it is supper special.

There are recipes for Pliny the Elder on the web, supplied by Vinnie Cilurzo. Now why would he do that? He says the equipment and procedures are hard to duplicate, so you get a similar beer, but not exactly the same. Sort of like Grandma's apple pie recipe.

MY homebrew club did an activity that weighed out the same ingredients in kits - malt, hops and yeast - for club members to brew a home, so water and process were not controlled. When judged there was a 20 point spread. So much for a recipe being special.

+1. I've tried several other brewers versions of the Pliny recipe aside from mine - most were good, but WIDE variance there. Heck, water chemistry differences alone (as mentioned) makes a huge difference, aside from inherent differences in systems and methods. I think Denny posted regarding his awesome BVIP recipe that he had tasted many versions of it brewed by other homebrewers, that most were very good, but none were a whole lot like his. I say do the opposite - give them the recipe and see just how different their versions are. A yeast driven beer like a saison will change dramatically depending on fermentation temp, ramp up schedule, etc. Our breweries (and exact methods start to finish) really are unique.

I have a saison recipe that a lot of people love and have asked me for the recipe. Does anyone know a way to copyright it? Thank you for your input.

Are you the owner of the brewery that sells this beer? Or just a home brewer serving friends? Either way I would be honored they asked and just give it out. Most probably won't brew it. And few if any will brew it "just like you". But, thinking as I type here (dangerous), what could you copyright? The grain bill? The hops used? You mashed at 156.0859 degrees? I'm curious as to what the legal folks have to say...

I am just a home brewer.

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And the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. II Cor. 3:17CRAZE

I have decided to give them the recipe. I was curious about copyright. "freely ye have received, freely give." Thanks to all of you. Your advise and counsel was very helpful. "Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellers there is safety."Proverbs 11:14

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And the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. II Cor. 3:17CRAZE

I have decided to give them the recipe. I was curious about copyright. "freely ye have received, freely give." Thanks to all of you. Your advise and counsel was very helpful. "Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellers there is safety."Proverbs 11:14